Guestlisted with Jed Gottlieb

The Boston 100: No. 83 -- "Save Me," Aimee Mann

Photo by:

By:

When "Save Me" hit the scene Aimee Mann was long gone from Boston, Berklee, 'Til Tuesday and "Voices Carry." But we will forever claim Mann. Why? Because she's amazing.

"Save Me" is quintessential California lonely. Beautiful, breezy and delicate, and oh so sad. A folk song that could have come out of the '70s Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene but was also perfect for the '90s indie rock explosion.

The lead song from the film "Magnolia," the song was nearly massive -- "Save Me" lost the Academy Award for Best Song to "You'll Be in My Heart" from Disney's Tarzan (really, really bad call) and the Best Pop Female Vocal Grammy to Macy Gray's "I Try" (not such a bad call). Instead it was a minor gem passed around a small circle who treasured it. But it was enough to re-start Mann's career and launch a righteous cult devoted to her melancholy pop skills.

See also: "The One."

What’s the Boston 100? It’s the return of my list of great Boston songs posted in random order (although No. 1 will be the final post — I gotta build some suspense). Every week or so I’ll add a tune with a Hub connection. I’d love some help: E-mail guestlisted@bostonherald.com with your No. 1 or Top 5 or anything worth considering – I’d love a few nominees for No. 100. If I use your track I’ll try to send you a CD by a local act you’ll dig.

The views expressed in any comment section are not those of the Herald or endorsed in any way by the Herald; the Herald reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct; and the Herald is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the Herald's terms of service.